Small Group Mini-Coach Tour (Maximum 16 Passengers)
A full day tour to Windsor Castle, the Roman City of Bath and mysterious Stonehenge.
Taking the very essence of those well loved periods of English history, we spend our time on this tour discovering many aspects of our long and illustrious past, enjoying subtle changes from one era to the next, as old gives way to new and the new in turn becomes old, our guides will bring to you a 'harvest of history'. You will have the option to visit Windsor Castle and discover a montage of monarchs from Saxons and Normans to our present-day Queen, we travel to the delightful city of Bath forever linked to the ancient Romans and those opulent Georgian playboys and drive down country by-ways and leafy lanes to Stonehenge heading further back in time to prehistoric cultures and mysterious civilizations. By operating the tour in the opposite direction to the bigger coach tours from London we strive to give you a chance to see these wonderful sites before or after most of the crowds have arrived and left.
We make our first call at Stonehenge, travelling through mysterious Wessex, arriving before the crowds in the mid-morning. Facts and theories abound at this ancient site, why and how? Who were the builders? What was its purpose? During our guided tour we learn about the different periods of building, stretching back over 5,00 years. We learn of the people who worshipped there, of the various ideas behind the alignments and use.
From here we head westwards to the golden limestone-clad city of Bath. People have been coming to Bath for centuries owing to the hot springs that bubble up to the surface at several locations in the city. At a constant temperature of 46.5C, the only hot springs in the country, the Romans enjoyed this place when they settled here ialmost 2,000 years ago, naming the resort Aqua Sulis. The city was beautifully re-invented in the 18th century when it became the fashionable place to see and be seen. Elegant crescents, squares and terraces were built as the rich and famous travelled from London for 'the season' to relieve themselves of rheumatic diseases, stiffness of the joints and gout. This fully guided tour includes admission to the Roman Baths museum and a tour of the highlights of Georgian Bath, including the Royal Crescent, Royal Circus and the Assembly Rooms.
Departing Bath we head along the Cotswold edge with views of the estuary of the River Severn and the distant mountains of Wales (weather permitting!) and onwards to Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. After a guided introduction to the town itself there is time to go inside and visit the Royal apartments, see Queen Mary's dolls house and gaze upon the last resting place of Henry VIII and Charles I in St George's chapel. Lavishly furnished rooms, a wonderful gallery of world famous art and views from the battlements across the Thames valley await the visitor as we wander around inside. We end the day at Runnymede. Long ago this was a Saxon meeting place but more importantly, after long drawn out negotiations between the barons and King John, the place where Magna Carta was agreed upon in 1215. We can walk around this historic site and learn of the implications of this document and then in turn learn how other nations have adapted this major constitution.It is here by the River Thames that we end the tour before our short journey back to London.
Important information regarding Windsor Castle.
If you specifically want to see certain parts of Windsor Castle (The State Apartments), please note the restrictions below:
The State Apartments closed
January 11th - 22nd
February 26th
April 6th
April 13th
May 7th
June 12th - 13th
The Semi-State Rooms
The Semi-State Rooms are now open.
Please note that when the State Apartments are closed the Semi-State Rooms will not be open.
As a working Royal palace, the Castle is used frequently by The Queen for State ceremonies and official entertaining and opening arrangements may change at short notice.
Price Includes
Fully guided lecture standard tour
Entrance to Roman Baths
Entrance to Stonehenge
All travel in comfortable purpose-built minibus from Central London
Please note that after 1st March 2013, entrance to Windsor Castle will not be included in the tour price and this can be purchased on arrival if required. This is because we always arrive when the Castle is less busy and we find that not all visitors want to go inside the castle.
On this tour you will be travelling with no more than 16 other people - guaranteed! Our purpose-built minibuses have large windows, good air circulation and clear PA systems so that your professional guide can escort you comfortably through our wonderful country. Our itineraries are carefully planned (with many years of experience) so that you discover as much as possible, without spending too much time on the road.
As we travel in smaller vehicles, we normally use the most scenic routes, where large coach are prohibited from travelling. Additionally, as our group sizes are smaller we are able to more time out of the vehicle. We also employ a the very best driver/guides.
We also offer a small group tour (maximum 35 people) that operates daily - click here
NEW: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, bath and Pub Lunch Tour - click here
